This year we were lucky enough to be invited back, for the grand opening of Thomas Land's 2.5 million expansion, which includes new rides such as Captain's Sea Adventure, Flynn's Fire & Rescue & Toby's Tram Express. There is also the Sodor airport which has a café and themed rooms that will be opening this Summer and a host of Victorian Fairground attractions such as "Hook a Duck".

Ava was beside herself with excitement at the thought of returning to Thomas Land and our journey was going extremely well until we neared Drayton Manor and I realised I'd completely underestimated half-term traffic. I was late and started panicking that I wouldn't be there for the opening of the new expansion, but I needn't have worried, the event was extremely well organised and we sailed into the event smoothly.

My first impressions were very good, the Sodor Airport is the main focus of the expansion, which stands tall and proud with balconies that allow you to look out across Thomas Land. Our first stop was the Flynn Fire & Rescue ride in which you had to stand in the "Fire engine cage" and squirt water at the "fire" as we moved up & down, we got wet but Ava enjoyed it.

She was too small for the other two rides (Captain's Sea Adventure & Toby's Tram Express) but that allowed us to go on our favourite ride from our first visit, Jeremy Jet's Flying Academy which we went on twice. We pottered around, admiring the new Fat Controller fountain and Ava danced along to the band playing in the new bandstand.

We also tried our hands at the new Victorian games, I was shockingly bad at the coconut shy and hoop games but we faired a little better at Hook a Duck and Ava won a Percy soft toy which I'm pretty sure made her day.

Once the expansion opened to the public we went onto Lady's carousel and walked through the main park to the zoo, which Ava had loved last year. We then ended up in the second part of Thomas Land, at Spencer's Play Area where we had spent a lot of time last September.

After a ride on Thomas back to Knapford and a couple more rides it was time to go home. We had a wonderful day at Drayton Manor and it's somewhere that I can't recommend enough! The new expansion has made Thomas Land even better which I didn't think was possible!

Thank you for having us!

* Disclaimer- We were invited to Drayton Manor park for free in exchange for this review, however thoughts and opinions are as usual 100% my own